Trends in automotive design continue to come and go. While the 1950s were characterised by tailfins and chrome; boxy, geometrical shapes had come to predominate by the end of the '60s, Ten years on, the design wheel had turned again, heralding the arrival of the wind tunnel-smoothed shapes of the 1980s. And so the cycle continues. But throughout these different ages of automobile design, one factor has remained constant. And that is the luxury auto buyer's continuing preference for leather-clad interiors. Despite the advances made in materials technology, nothing has come along to rival the look, feel and smell of a quality leather interior. Nor is it ever likely to. But that has not prevented some manufacturers from trying. While it remains an ardent user of leather, the upmarket US General Motors division of Cadillac recently began adding a synthetic leather smell to its leather seat facings, to give them what it describes as added showroom appeal While no-one would argue with its intentions, Cadillac would do well to follow the example of its main competitors who have long since discovered what the luxury automotive buyer really wants. And that is simply more leather.
展开▼
